Polemonium plant named Brise d&#39;Anjou

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Polemonium plant named Brise d&#39;Anjou, characterized by its distinct yellow-edged variegated foliage, with violet blue flowers beginning in May and continuing to flower into August, and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardyperennial herbaceous plant of the genus Polemonium, a member of thePolemoniaceae family, and the species Polemonium caeruleum, known by thecultivar name Brise d'Anjou. The species is commonly known and referredto by the commercial designation "Jacob's Ladder."

The new cultivar was discovered as a naturally occurring mutation fromthe parent Polemonium caeruleum cultivar in a cultivared area, namely, anursery, at Brissac-Quince, France by the inventors Maurice Proteau andRene Proteau. The new cultivar Brise d'Anjou is quite distinct fromtypical plants of Polemonium caeruleum and was discovered primarily dueto its unique yellow-edged foliage which was noted as holding itsvariegation right through to winter.

The new cultivar was first asexually reproduced by division by, or underthe supervisor of, the inventors Maurice Proteau and Rene Proteau in acontrolled environment in Brissac-Quince, France. Such propagation andsubsequent asexual propagation and trialing of the new cultivar haveclearly demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The new cultivar possesses many of the same characteristics as othercultivars of the species, including flower form and type, floweringhabit, clump-forming habit, and excellent vigor. In mild areas, Brised'Anjou and other plants of the species will remain evergreen. Typicalplants of the species form clumps which flower for many weeks, oftenstarting as early as May and continuing until August. Plants of thespecies, including the new cultivar, thrive best in partial shade or ina sheltered spot, but will tolerate full sun. Well-drained soil thatdoes not dry out provides the best growing conditions.

The new cultivar Brise d'Anjou is particularly characterized by itsvariegated foliage which, to the best knowledge of the inventors, isunique. The main foliage color is yellow green but there is a yellowedge of substantial dimension that varies in width depending upon theage of the leaves. The new cultivar is further characterized by itsviolet blue flowers, excellent vigor, and striking effect of thevariegated foliage against the erect stems topped with violet blueflowers displaying rich yellow stamens. The new cultivar has a lowgrowing habit and is ideal for use in borders or containers.

In addition to the described comparison with typical plants of thespecies, including the parent cultivar, Brise d'Anjou can be comparedwith the Polemonium caeruleum cultivar Dawn Flight. The habit of Brised'Anjou is similar to Dawn Flight but the new cultivar is distinguishedfrom Dawn Flight by its foliage color and flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS

The color photograph on sheet 1 is a close-up view of the plant of Brised'Anjou, emphasizing the pinnate finely divided foliage with its uniqueyellow-edged leaves.

The photograph on sheet 2 is a view of the plant growing in a bordersetting.

The photograph on sheet 3 is a plant of Brise d'Anjou in flower, withthe photograph accurately depicting the rich violet blue flower color.It should be noted that the foliage shown in this photo has asubstantial yellow hue and does not accurately depict the true laminaand margin colors of the foliage.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of Brise d'Anjou based on plantsgrown in Weinheim, Germany and Diss, Norfolk, England. All colordeterminations and comparisons are based on The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart.

Classification:

Origin.--Naturally occurring mutation.

Parentage.--Mutation from unnamed Polemonium caeruleum cultivar.

Plant:

Habit.--Clump forming.

Size.--Mature plants are 60 cm in height with a spread of about 50 cm.

Root system.--Fibrous.

Plant vigor.--A perennial that shows vigorous and healthy growththroughout Great Britain.

Blooming habit.--Small showy violet blue flowers borne on erect racemosestems, arising from the base of the plant.

Blooming period.--From May continuing into September.

Method of asexual propagation.--Preferably by division, although asexualreproduction by micropropagation and basal cuttings is also possible.

Hardiness.--Winter hardy throughout the British Isles. Plants havesurvived temperatures of -8° centigrade and could probably survive atstill lower temperatures. The plant has not been fully tested formaximum summer temperature tolerance above 32° C. (90° F.).

Foliage:

Arrangement.--Petiole arising from a short creeping rhizome, erect,simple, with opposite pinnate leaves and terminal leaf.

Type.--Herbaceous.

Texture.--Both upper and lower surfaces are smooth and dull.

Shape.--Generally oval to obovate, with rounded base and obtuse to acutetip; margin entire.

Length.--2.5 cm to 3.0 cm.

Width.--1 cm.

Petiole length.--10-20 cm.

Margins.--Entire.

Apex.--Acute.

Base.--Cuneate.

Flowers:

Form.--Single.

Borne.--In compact trusses.

Petal count.--Five of equal size.

Petal shape.--Saucer shaped, many display a drooping habit.

Flower type.--Corymbose.

Flower size.--2 cm in diameter.

Carpels.--3-celled.

Stamens.--Exserted, yellow 13A in color.

Color characteristics:

Foliage.--Mature leaves. Upper surface (outside edge): approximately12D. Upper surface (middle): 138A. Under surface (outside edge): 150C.Under surface (middle): 138B. Variation in variegation: Early in thegrowing season young leaves display dominant yellow margins relative tothe green midvein area. As the growing season progresses, the greencolor expands from the midvein toward the edges, with green dominatingin mature leaves. However, even in mature leaves, the yellow edgesremain. For a leaf width of 1 cm, the green variegation color rangesfrom 1 mm to 8 mm in width depending upon leaf maturity.

Flowers.--Mature flowers. Petals: 92A. Stamens: 13A.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variet of Polemonium plant namedBrise d'Anjou, substantially as illustrated and described.